Comparative Politics

Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases

J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood

Comparative Politics

Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases

J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood

Description

Why do countries have different institutions and forms of government? Why do some social revolutions succeed and endure while others fail? Why are some societies subjected to terrorism and not others? An engaging and accessible introduction to the subject, Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases gives students the methodological tools they need to answer the "big questions" in the field. The authors introduce methods early in the text and integrate them throughout in order to help students develop a systematic way of thinking about comparative politics.

FEATURES

* A unique structure offers the best of thematic and country-by-country approaches. Fifteen succinct thematic chapters--organized around the "big questions" in the
field--are followed by a separate section at the end of the book offering full-length profiles and case studies for twelve countries

* Each chapter integrates six standalone country case studies in "Case in Context" boxes; these features tie into the narrative, pose questions, and point students to the full case discussions in the country profiles

* "Thinking Comparatively" boxes introduce new methodological tools and help students apply the theories and concepts covered in each chapter

* "Insights" boxes provide abstracts on some of the leading works in the field

Comparative Politics

Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases

J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood

Table of Contents

InsightsPrefaceMaps of the WorldPART I: COMPARATIVE POLITICAL ANALYSIS Chapter 1. The Comparative Approach: An Introduction Asking Why: Research Questions in Comparative Politics Types of Questions in Comparative Political AnalysisMajor Questions in Comparative PoliticsEmpirical Arguments versus Normative ArgumentsSolving Intellectual Puzzles: A Contemporary AnalogyConcepts Features of Good ConceptsConceptualizationOperationalizing: From Concepts to MeasuresEmpirical Evidence Facts and EvidenceCases and Case StudiesThe Comparative Method Variables and ComparisonThe Most-Similar-Systems DesignThe Most-Different-Systems DesignComparative CheckingWithin-Case ComparisonIs the Study of Politics a Science? The Limits of the Comparative Method Chapter 2. Theories, Hypotheses, and Evidence Introduction to Theories, Hypotheses, and Evidence HypothesesHow Theories Emerge and Are UsedTypes of EvidenceHypothesis Testing CorrelationCausationCritiques: Using Theory and Evidence Empirical Critiques: Confirming Cases and Deviant CasesTheoretical Critiques: Improving Theories and HypothesesThe Challenge of Measurement: Errors, Biases, and Validity Thinking Comparatively: Qualities of Good Analysis and Argumentation Step 1: Asking Good Questions: Why?Step 2: Hypotheses Testing: Generating Good Hypotheses and Testing Them FairlyStep 3: Balancing
Argumentation: Evidence, Originality, and MeaningfulnessPART II: THE STATE, DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND AUTHORITARIANISM Chapter 3. The Modern State Concepts The Modern StateState CapacityFailed StatesThe State-Society RelationshipTypes Characteristics of Modern StatesBureaucracyImpersonalitySovereignty Functions of Modern StatesTaxationDefensePolicingEconomic ManagementInvestments in Human Capital: Education and HealthWelfare State FunctionsInfrastructure and Other Public GoodsCauses and Effects: Why Do States and Welfare States Emerge? Why Do States Emerge?Political/Conflict TheoriesEconomic TheoriesCultural TheoriesDiffusionTheoriesWhy Do Welfare States Emerge?Cultural ChangesIndustrial CapitalismMobilization And Political ActionThinking Comparatively: How Did the Spanish State Emerge? Cases in Context The Mexican State and Rule of LawState-led Development in JapanThe German State: Unification and WelfareThe State in FranceThe State in the United KingdomWhat Is a Weak State, and Can It Be Changed? The Case of NigeriaChapter 4. Development and Political Economy Concepts Types Poverty and InequalityEmployment and InflationSocial Outcomes and Human DevelopmentGender Relations and Racial and Ethnic IdentitiesSatisfaction and HappinessCultural DevelopmentSustainabilityCauses andEffects Institutions: Markets and StatesCulture and DevelopmentSystems and Structures: International and DomesticThinking Comparatively: Explaining the Development of North and South Korea Cases in Context Did Free Markets Help the United States Get Rich? Will They in the Future?What Explains India's Recent Growth?Does the Global Economy Help or Hurt Developing Nations like Brazil?Why Are Natural Resources Sometimes a Curse? The Nigerian CaseDevelopment and Political Economy of BritainHow Did China Become an Economic Power?Chapter 5. Democracy and Democratization Concepts Democracy and Democratic RegimesProcedural (Minimal) Definitions of DemocracySubstantive Definitions of DemocracyRegime
Change and DemocratizationTypes Types of DemocracyRepresentative DemocracyDirect DemocracyTypes of Democratization Transition to DemocracyDemocratic ConsolidationCauses and Effects: What Causes Democratization? ModernizationCulture and DemocracyThe International SystemDomestic InstitutionsAgents and ActorsCombining Arguments and Theories: Multiple CausesThinking Comparatively: Is American Democracy a Model? Cases in Context Gradual Democratization in the United KingdomIs China Destined for Democracy?Democratic Consolidation in BrazilDemocracy's Success in India: What Can We Learn from a Deviant Case?Democratization (Partially) from the Outside in JapanIs
American Democracy in Trouble?Chapter 6. Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Breakdown Concepts Authoritarianism and Authoritarian RegimesTransitions to Authoritarian RegimesTypes Types of AuthoritarianismTotalitarian RegimesTheocraciesPersonalistic DictatorshipsBureaucratic-Authoritarian RegimesHybrid and Semi-authoritarian RegimesTypes of Transition (or Nontransition) to AuthoritarianismAuthoritarian PersistenceDemocratic BreakdownTransition to Hybrid or Semi-authoritarian RegimeCauses and Effects: What Causes Authoritarian Regimes to Emerge and Persist? Historical Institutionalist TheoriesPoverty and InequalityState Weakness and FailurePolitical CultureBarriers
to Collective ActionSpecial Causal Circumstances Surrounding Hybrid RegimesThinking Comparatively: Why Did Zimbabwe Become and Remain Authoritarian? Cases in Context Democratic Features of Authoritarian Systems? The Case of IranOligarchy, Democracy, and Authoritarianism in RussiaDemocracy and Authoritarianism in GermanyMexico's "Perfect Dictatorship" and Its EndAuthoritarian Persistence in Nineteenth-century FranceDevelopment, the Weak State, and Authoritarianism in NigeriaPART III: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT Chapter 7. Constitutions and Constitutional Design Concepts ConstitutionsConstitutional DesignTypes Flexible and Rigid ConstitutionsSeparation of Powers: Judicial Review and
Parliamentary SovereigntyFederalism and UnitarismFederalismUnitarismAuthoritarian and Democratic ConstitutionsCauses and Effects: What Are the Effects of Federal Constitutions? Are Federal Constitutions Good for Social Stability?Are Federal Constitutions Good for Protecting Democratic Rights?Are Federal Constitutions Good for the Economy?Judicial Review and DemocracyThinking Comparatively: What Explains the Similarities between the American and South African Constitutions? Cases in Context Brazil's ConstitutionNo Constitution? No Supreme Court? Constitutionality in the United KingdomConstitutional Design: Theocracy in IranFederalism and the States in Nigeria: Holding Together or Tearing Apart?Federalism and Differences in Development in IndiaIs Judicial Activism in the United States a Problem?Chapter 8. Legislatures and Legislative Elections Concepts What Legislatures AreWhat Legislatures DoTypes Unicameral and Bicameral LegislaturesElectoral SystemsDistrict SystemsProportional Representation (PR)Mixed or Hybrid SystemsExecutive--Legislative RelationsCauses and Effects Patterns of RepresentationElectoral Systems and RepresentationLegislative Decision Making and RepresentationExecutive-Legislative Relations and RepresentationThinking Comparatively: Representation in New Zealand and Beyond Cases in Context The Mother of Parliaments: The United Kingdom and the
Westminster ModelProportional Representation and Political Power in the Russian DumaElectoral Rules and Party (In)Discipine in Brazil's LegislatureThe Hybrid Electoral System of the Japanese DietInstitutional Design: Germany's Bundestag and BundesratThe United States Congress: Dysfunctional or Functioning by Design?Chapter 9. Executives Concepts Types Executive Structures: Presidential and ParliamentaryFormal PowersPartisan PowersInformal PowersCoalitionsCauses and Effects Stable and Unstable Regimes: Presidentialism, Parliamentarism, and DemocracyStable and Unstable Executives: Styles of Presidential RuleStable and Unstable Executives: Patterns of Parliamentary RuleThinkingComparatively: Beyond the American and British Models Cases in Context Electing the French President: What Do Runoffs Do?"The Most Powerful Person in the World"? Checks on American PresidentsExecutives in Russia: Was the Former President a Puppet?Who Governs China?Giving the "Big Finger": The Mexican President's DedazoThe Presidency in Nigeria: Powers and LimitationsChapter 10. Political Parties, Party Systems, and Interest Groups Concepts Political PartiesParty SystemsInterest GroupsTypes Political Parties: Elite, Mass, and Catch-All PartiesParty Systems: Dominant-Party, Two-Party, and Multiparty SystemsInterest Groups: Pluralism and CorporatismCauses and Effects Party
Systems and RepresentationWhat Factors Shape Party Systems?How Do Party Systems Shape Political Outcomes?Interest Groups and RepresentationThinking Comparatively: Party Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa Cases in Context The Chinese Party SystemHow Did Japan's Dominant Party Win for So Long?Consensus-Based Politics in GermanyPersonalism and the Party System in RussiaThe PRI and Corporatism in MexicoWhat Makes Interest Articulation in Brazil Coherent or Incoherent?PART IV: POLITICS, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Chapter 11. Revolutions and Contention Concepts What Is "Contention"?Revolutionary and Non-revolutionary ContentionTypes Social MovementsRevolutionsInsurgencies and Civil
WarsTerrorism"Everyday Resistance"Causes and Effects: Why Do Revolutions Happen? Relative Deprivation and Social DisequilibriumResource Mobilization and Political OpportunitiesRational-ChoiceCulture or "Framing" ExplanationsThinking Comparatively: The "Arab Spring" of 2011 Cases in Context Brazil's Landless MovementThe French RevolutionIndia's Struggle Against ColonialismThe Russian RevolutionThe Chinese RevolutionIran's Islamic Revolution and "Green Revolution"?Chapter 12. Nationalism and National Identity Concepts IdentityNationalism and the NationTypes Primordialist ApproachesPerennialist ApproachesModernist ApproachesTypes of NationalismCauses and Effect What Causes Nationalism to Emerge?Primordial TiesStructural ForcesPolitical InstitutionsCultural ConstructionWhat Causes Ethno-national Conflict?Primordial BondsCultural BoundariesMaterial InterestsRational CalculationSocial PsychologyThinking Comparatively: Ending Ethnic and National Violence Cases in Context Civic Nationalism in France?Ethnic Boundaries of the German Nation?Industrialization, Modernity, and National Identity in MexicoImporting National Identity in Japan?National Identity in the United KingdomThe Nigerian Civil War or Biafran War: Nationalism and Ethno-national Conflict in aPost-colonial SocietyChapter 13. Race, Ethnicity, andGender Concepts Race and EthnicityGenderSexual OrientationTypes Disentangling Race and EthnicityDiscrimination Based on Race and EthnicityGender DiscriminationEmpowerment of Women and Minority GroupsCauses and Effects: What Factors Influence the Political Representation of Women and Minority Groups? Social Movement MobilizationPolitical Parties Based on Gender or EthnicityInstitutional Methods for Promoting Women's and Minority Group Members'Representation in Elected OfficeThinking Comparatively: Indicators of Gender Empowerment Cases in Context Gender in Post-Revolutionary Iranian PoliticsGender Empowerment in Japan?Gender and Political Representation in Brazil: Where
Has Progress Come From?Ethnic Groups and Political Representation in the United StatesWhy Aren't There Major Ethnic Parties in Mexico?Ethnicity and Political Parties in IndiaChapter 14. Ideology and Religion in Modern Politics Concepts Modernity and ModernizationIdeologyReligionSecularization, Religion, and Modern PoliticsReligious ConflictTypes Modern IdeologiesLiberalismFascismSocialismModern Forms of Religion in PoliticsLay and Religious StatesDenominationalismCauses and Effects Why (and How) Does Modernization Alter Religion's Role in Politics?Modernization Theory and SecularizationThe "Religious Economies" ApproachInstitutional TheoriesWhy
Didn't Ideology (and History) EndThinking Comparatively: Two Lefts in Latin America? Cases in Context Liberal Ideology in the United KingdomNazism in GermanyCommunist Ideology in Practice--Russia and the Soviet UnionReligion and Secularism in FranceReligion and Politics in IranReligious Difference and Conflict in Nigeria: Disentangling Ethnicity and Religion?PART V: THE COMPARATIVE-INTERNATIONAL NEXUS Chapter 15. Comparative Politics and International Relations Concepts Issues Globalization and TradeInternational Institutions and IntegrationImmigrationEnvironment and SustainabilityTransnational NetworksNuclear Threats and TerrorismCauses and Effects RealismLiberalismConstructivismMarxismThinking Comparatively: The EU and Levels of Analysis Cases in Context China and the Global EconomyThe United States and the World: A Love-Hate Relationship?Globalization and Culture in FranceResource Management in JapanIran and the Politics of Nuclear ProliferationIndia in the Twenty-first Century: Domestic Politics, Identity, and SecurityPART VI: COUNTRY PROFILES AND CASES United Kingdom Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies The State in the United Kingdom (Ch. 3)Development and Political Economy of Britain (Ch. 4)No Constitution? No Supreme
Court? Constitutionality in the United Kingdom (Ch. 7)The Mother of Parliaments: The United Kingdom and the Westminster Model (Ch. 8)National Identity in the United Kingdom (Ch. 12)Liberal Ideology in the United Kingdom (Ch. 14)France Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies The State in France (Ch. 3)Electing the French President: What Do Runoffs Do? (Ch. 9)The French Revolution (Ch. 11)Civic Nationalism in France? (Ch. 12)Religion and Secularism in France (Ch. 14)Globalization and Culture in France (Ch. 15)Germany Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political
InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies The German State: Unification and Welfare (Ch. 3)Democracy and Authoritarianism in Germany (Ch. 6)Institutional Design: Germany's Bundestag and Bundesrat (Ch. 8)Consensus-Based Politics in Germany (Ch. 10)Ethnic Boundaries of the German Nation? (Ch. 12)Nazism in Germany (Ch. 14)Japan ProfileIntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies State-Led Development in Japan (Ch. 3)Democratization (Partially) from the Outside in Japan (Ch. 5)The Hybrid Electoral System of the Japanese Diet (Ch. 8)How Did Japan's Dominant Party Win for So Long? (Ch.
10)Importing National Identity in Japan? (Ch. 12)Gender Empowerment in Japan? (Ch. 13)Resource Management in Japan (Ch. 15)United States Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical Economy>Case Studies Did Free Markets Help the United States Get Rich? Will They in the Future? (Ch. 4)Is Judicial Activism in the United States a Problem? (Ch. 7)The United States Congress: Dysfunctional or Functioning by Design? (Ch. 8)"The Most Powerful Person in the World"? Checks on American Presidents (Ch. 9)Ethnic Groups and Political Representation in the United States (Ch. 13)The United States and the World: A Love-Hate Relationship? (Ch. 15)Brazil Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies Does the Global Economy Help or Hurt Developing Nations like Brazil? (Ch. 4)Brazil's Constitution (Ch. 7)Electoral Rules and Party (In)Discipine in Brazil's Legislature (Ch. 8)What Makes Interest Articulation in Brazil Coherent or Incoherent? (Ch. 10)Brazil's Landless Movement (Ch. 11)Gender and Political Representation in Brazil: Where Has Progress Come From? (Ch. 13)Russia Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies Oligarchy, Democracy, and
Authoritarianism in Russia (Ch. 6)Proportional Representation and Political Power in the Russian Duma (Ch. 8)Executives in Russia: Was the Former President a Puppet? (Ch. 9)Personalism and the Party System in Russia (Ch. 10)The Russian Revolution (Ch. 11)Communist Ideology in Practice--Russia and the Soviet Union (Ch. 14)India Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies What Explains India's Recent Growth? (Ch. 4)Democracy's Success in India: What Can We Learn from a Deviant Case? (Ch. 5)Federalism and Differences in Development in India (Ch. 7)India's Struggle Against Colonialism (Ch. 11)Ethnicity and
Political Parties in India (Ch. 13)India in the Twenty-first Century: Domestic Politics, Identity, and Security (Ch. 15)China Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies How Did China Become an Economic Power? (Ch. 4) Is China Destined for Democracy? (Ch. 5) Who Governs China? (Ch. 9) The Chinese Party System (Ch. 10) The Chinese Revolution (Ch. 11) What Does the Rise of China Mean for the U.S. Economy? (Ch. 15) Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies Democratic Features of Authoritarian Systems? The Case of Iran (Ch. 6)Constitutional Design: Theocracy in Iran (Ch. 7)Iran's Islamic Revolution and "Green Revolution"? (Ch. 11)Gender in Post-Revolutionary Iranian Politics (Ch. 13)Religion and Politics in Iran (Ch. 14)Iran and the Politics of Nuclear Proliferation (Ch. 15)Mexico Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies The Mexican State and Rule of Law (Ch. 3) Mexico's "Perfect Dictatorship" and Its End (Ch. 6) Giving the Big Finger: The Mexican President's Dedazo (Ch. 9) The PRI and Corporatism in Mexico (Ch. 10) Industrialization, Modernity,and National Identity in Mexico (Ch. 12) Why Aren't There Major Ethnic Parties in Mexico? (Ch. 13) Nigeria Profile IntroductionHistorical DevelopmentRegime and Political InstitutionsPolitical CulturePolitical EconomyCase Studies What Is a Weak State, and Can It Be Changed? The Case of Nigeria (Ch. 3)Why Are Natural Resources Sometimes a Curse? The Nigerian Case (Ch. 4)Development, the Weak State, and Authoritarianism in Nigeria (Ch. 6)Federalism and the States in Nigeria: Holding Together or Tearing Apart? (Ch. 7)The Presidency in Nigeria: Powers and Limitations (Ch. 9)The Nigerian Civil War or Biafran War: Nationalism and Ethno-National Conflict in a Post-Colonial Society (Ch. 12)Religious
Difference and Conflict in Nigeria: Disentangling Ethnicity and Religion? (Ch. 14)NotesGlossaryReferences and Further ReadingCreditsIndex

Comparative Politics

Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases

J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood

Author Information

J. Tyler Dickovick is Associate Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. He is the author of Decentralization and Recentralization in Developing Countries: Comparative Studies from Africa and Latin America (2011) and has published articles in many journals.

Jonathan Eastwood is Associate Professor of Sociology at Washington and Lee University. He is the author of several articles and book chapters and of The Rise of Nationalism in Venezuela (2006).

Comparative Politics

Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases

J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood

Reviews and Awards

"I am impressed by the way that Comparative Politics integrates the discussion of methodology throughout every chapter--stressing that learning about the appropriate ways to compare is just as important as learning the facts, theories, and case studies. This text is highly innovative and stimulating--it provides something that most textbooks do not. It has a great approach to presenting the major theories of the field, and complements these with outstanding case studies and instructional sections on how to conduct comparative politics."--Anna Brigevich, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Comparative Politics has excellent breadth and generality, covers the key issues any introductory text should cover, and neatly integrates country studies into a thematically organized text, something no other equivalent text manages to achieve."--Ian Down, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

"Simply put, this text offers a more comparative learning experience than a traditional country-by-country approach. It offers the core country-specific detail found in other texts, but leverages a much wider range of comparative thinking on central issues."--Jeffrey Lewis, Cleveland State University

"More so than any other textbook on the market, this text provides an excellent combination of theoretical and conceptual materials with in-depth case studies that will empower students to think critically and engage in materials well beyond the surface."--Joseph Foy, University of Wisconsin-Parkside